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“Get Your Woollies
Out,” says Age UK!
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According to new research by Age UK, almost half of
people in the UK (47 per cent) have received a woolly
present for Christmas that they have never worn or only worn
once or twice. With just a few days to go until Bobble Day
(10 February) - Age UK’s annual fundraising event to help
older people in winter - the Charity is asking people to
resurrect their winter woollies, wear them with pride, and
donate £2 to their school or workplace on Bobble Day.
The survey also shows that:
• Almost a quarter (22 per cent) of women have received a
woolly present that has never been worn
• Nearly a fifth (17 per cent) of UK adults put the last
woolly present they received at the back of their wardrobe
or in the bottom of a drawer and haven’t taken it out since
• Over a third (36 per cent) of men have been given a winter
woolly that they have only worn once or twice.
Despite these figures, wacky woollen items have enjoyed a
recent renaissance with online retailers reporting a huge
600% increase in sales** of festive knits compared to last
year, so why not wrap up in your most colourful and crazy
knits on 10 February? The fashion-forward could even team
neon legwarmers with stripy jumpers, giant jumper dresses
with woolly socks, and even create matching outfits for
pets! The money raised will go to Age UK’s Spread the Warmth
campaign to help keep older people warm and well during what
can be extremely difficult winter months for thousands
across the country.
So get behind this season’s woolly craze and join the pack
of celebrities who’ve been seen sporting festive knits this
season, with Justin Bieber donning a red and white snowflake
woollen jumper, Fearne Cotton rocking a reindeer knit, Matt
Damon wearing a jumper complete with 3D santa heads, and
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield presenting This
Morning in their winter woollies.
Bobble Day is easy to get involved in and you really will be
helping to prevent needless suffering for older people in
winter. The money raised will go towards Age UK’s Spread the
Warmth campaign which helps the Charity and its local and
national partners to provide information, advice and
practical services to help people in later life during the
colder months.
People can buy bobbles from their local Age UK shop or
Wilkinson store for a suggested donation of £1. More
exciting fundraising ideas for Bobble Day can be found at
www.ageuk.org.uk/bobbleday or call 0800 169 87 87.
And don’t forget to share your stories and pictures of your
woolly antics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ageuk) or
Twitter, using the hashtag #BobbleDay.
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Is Retirement Good
For You?
We all can only dream of an early retirement. It sounds
wonderful: financial security and time to do whatever you
want. Is early retirement a healthy idea, though? A study at
Shell Oil company looked in to that very question and found
that people who retired at age 55 had almost twice the risk
of death compared to people who retired at age 60.
Here are the details:
The study examined the survival of 839 employees who retired
at 55 and 1929 employees who retired at 60 and compared them
to 900 employees who retired at 65. Women made up only 11%
of the study population. The link between early retirement
and early death was greater for men. In fact, men for
retired at 55 had an 80% greater increase risk than women
who retired at 55. People who retired at 60 were no
different than people who retired at age 65, in terms of
overall risk of death.It could be that people who retire at
55 have poor health (and therefore chose early retirement).
Retiring at Age 60, Not A Problem for Health
Another study also found that retiring at age 60 seemed to
not impact health. In the Whitehall II study researchers
follow British Civil Servants. This gives them access to a
huge database of health and demographic information. There
have been hundreds of studies from this database and one of
them looked at the impact of retiring at age 60 on health.
Here’s what they found:
People who retired at age 60 had the same physical and
mental health function as people similar to them who were
still working. In fact, the retirees’ mental health improved
somewhat after retiring. So according to this study,
retiring at age 60 is either not harmful or even good for
you.
Should I Cancel My
Retirement?
What about just not retiring ever? There are regions where
people are healthy and active well in to old age. In these
places, it is not uncommon for a 90-year-old to be walking
several miles a day, helping with the garden and taking care
of great-grandchildren. People seem to age well in places,
such as Okinawa, the Hunza Valley and the Vilcabamba. In
these regions, the idea of retirement just doesn’t exist.
People stay active in to their very old age. Basically they
go, go, go and then pass away. They don’t experience long
periods of chronic illness or disability. Many researchers
believe that the lack of retirement in these areas (along
with diet) are the main reasons people age so well there.
Make your retirement more like their lives, and you just may
avoid some of the age-related health problems so common in
older adults.
How to Have a
Healthy Retirement
All this discussion about retirement and health is
arbitrary. What matters for your health is what you are
doing to your body and mind. If you retire and sit around
all day, your health will deteriorate. If you retire and hit
the gym while eating tons of fruits and vegetables, your
health will improve. People who are working can have
terrible health if they sit around all day and stress out,
so forget about whether retirement is healthy or not -- look
at your daily habits and decide which ones need some
improvement.
Here’s a list to
get you started:
Fruits and Vegetables:
You need to eat between 5 and 9 servings of fruit and
vegetables every day. This is your number one nutritional
mission. You can do this simply by adding 2 servings to your
day every week. By the end of the month, you’ll be there.
Exercise: You need to
exercise every day. What you choose for your exercise will
depend on your health and your interests. Be sure to do a
variety of exercises to build strength, flexibility,
cardiovascular health and balance.
Brain Health: Your brain
needs some exercise too. Find ways to stimulate your brain
in to learning new things and keep the cobwebs from growing
up there.
Relaxation: Don’t forget
to relax. Some of the most stressed out people I know are
retired. They just transfer their workday stress on to their
retired lives. Find a structured way to relax every day.
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Enjoy
Life To The Full
At Grange Court
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Getting older doesn’t have to mean
losing your independence; in fact, buying an Aspen
Retirement Living apartment at Grange Court, in
Solihull, could give you the freedom to enjoy your
retirement to the full.
The development of one, two and
three-bedroom apartments on Warwick Road is opposite
the shops and businesses of Dovehouse Parade and
just a short bus ride from the centre of Solihull.
Whether you’re a sprightly
60-something or a not quite so nimble
nonagenarian, you’ll still have all the
benefits of independent living with your own front
door.
However, you’ll also enjoy the reassurance of
friendly support staff, an emergency call system and
a residents’ lounge for those times when you crave
like-minded company. There’s even a guest suite for
when your family comes to stay.
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There’s also the chance to take
advantage of substantial price reductions for those
who legally complete their purchase before March 31st,
2012. Current prices are from just £179,950 for a
one-bedroom apartment and from £249,950 for a
two-bedroom property. Inside they make similar
second hand properties look totally outdated and
boast a superior specification to that of other
new-build providers in the area.
Liz Herring, sales and marketing
manager for Aspen Retirement, says: “Our apartments
are suitable for anyone from the active retired to
those who want a quieter life, free from the worry
of maintaining a large house and garden.
“Ideal for downsizers, they are still
very spacious and purchasers won’t have to
compromise on specification or style. Kitchens come
well-equipped and include an electric eye-level
oven, hob, fridge-freezer and washer dryer, while
bathrooms include a separate shower cubicle as well
as a bath.”
Aspen incorporates plenty of built-in
storage space within its apartments but for those
moving from larger properties and worried about
fitting in all the essentials there are even extra
storage lock-ups available for rent.
Liz adds: “People thinking about
downsizing may be worried about selling their
existing home in the current market but we’ll have a
couple of estate agents on hand at our open day to
provide free, friendly, informal advice.
They’ll be able to give approximate valuations and
talk about marketing the property without any
obligation on the home owner to proceed.
“Potential purchasers have nothing to
lose – and everything to gain – by coming along to
take a look on January 19th.”
To find out more
about the lifestyle
benefits of owning a home at Grange Court, Solihull,
contact Glenys Bastin, tel:
0121 708 0586, or email:
glenysb@aspenretirement.co.uk |
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Retirement:
What Will You
Do All Day?
Do you ever wonder about retirement and what it
will be like not to go to work any more?
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Which way now?
When I say ‘go to work’ I’m referring to working for
an employer. Many people do work after retirement
but this may be setting up their own business, doing
voluntary work, and doing whatever it is that you
really feel drawn to doing.
So if the thought of losing your working day routine
worries you and you wonder how you will pass your
days without it then take heart there are new
opportunities which open up for you. It depends on
what you really would like to do after you retire.
Some people are very anxious about their lack of
income and might want to find some suitable
employment. This could be something entirely
different from your long time job.
Perhaps there is something you love doing as a hobby
and now you could find some paid work. Perhaps the
rate of pay would be less than before but
nevertheless it is still something which would
occupy your days and also bring you some extra
finances.
If on the other hand you have an adequate pension
provision you may be more able to volunteer to help
in any number of organisation doing whatever it may
be that truly interests you. This might be showing
people around a stately home, invigilating at an art
exhibition or doing some gardening for a friend.
As with everything the most important question to
ask yourself is. ‘What do you want?’ Then make sure
you answer yourself in great detail so that you are
more able to identify something suitable for you to
spend your time doing.
If you have enough money from your pension or
savings then you might be able to spend this time of
your life learning new skills and indulging your
passion for anything which you didn’t have time for
previously.
Whatever you decide to do avoid putting yourself
into another working stress sort of situation. It’s
very important at this stage of your life to be able
to enjoy yourself as as well as finding plenty to do
each day.
A common experience of retired people is that as
time goes by they discover many things they hadn’t
realised were available to them and their days fill
up quickly, so much so that they say ‘I’m so busy
now, I don’t know how I ever had the time to work!’ |
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Retirement Activities
No more Monday morning meetings or
brutal stress headaches. Retirement may mean
worrying about your blood pressure and cholesterol
level, but there are big advantages to opting for a
slower pace and leaving the working world to fend
for itself. Let's take a look at some popular
retirement activities designed with you in mind.
Spectator Sports
Give a man a flat screen and a remote, and he'll
find a sporting event to watch somewhere, even if
the announcer is speaking a different language. A
fascination with sports isn't the exclusive province
of the young. Older guys are as passionate about
their spectator pastimes as their younger
counterparts, but with more time to indulge and a
longer history of loyalty to their respective teams.
Physical Activity
Where a woman might head out for a bracing hour of
yoga or tai chi, her retired spouse is more likely
to pursue a competitive activity with a little more
at stake than just breaking a sweat. Sports like
golf and bowling are popular for male retirees.
Fishing is too, but the fish probably get more of a
workout than the fisherman. A recent study revealed
other popular physical activities for men 55 and
over: day hiking, fitness walking, calisthenics and
recreational vehicle camping and hunting. Although
it doesn't require sports gear, getting some of
those chores off the honey-do list can provide a
workout, too.
Volunteering
Retirees may feel their talents are being wasted
once they make the transition to a more leisurely
lifestyle. Finally having the time to read the paper
from cover to cover may not provide enough of a
diversion. Donating time is a form of community
involvement that can be uniquely satisfying in
retirement. It makes use of hard-won skills and
provides worthwhile opportunities for social
interaction.
Financial Management
The money manager in the family is probably spending
more time in front of a calculator these days.
Overseeing the family's financial portfolio can be a
time-consuming activity. It can also be an
engrossing and satisfying occupation that's as much
an art as a skill. Economic woes and uncertainty
about the future have turned money management into a
big job -- especially for retirees. Learning to live
with less, protect existing assets and discover new
places to invest funds for safe growth may not be as
much fun as fishing, or as exciting as a good game
of golf, but it's a big concern in today's financial
climate.
Travel
One of the dreams of retirement is having the time
and freedom to travel. That goal is motivating
retirees to indulge their wanderlust and incorporate
their love of the open road with other passionate
interests. From wine tasting vacations in France to
packaged tours , seniors are finding travel
opportunities covering hundreds of topics and
pastimes. |
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Rare Opportunity To Buy A
Brand New Home At
Popular Retirement Village
The release onto the market of three Coach Houses
marks a rare opportunity to buy a brand new home at
Chorleywood’s premier retirement village.
Cedars Village is an established community for the
over 55s, off Dog Kennel Lane, on the fringes of the
town.
There is already a range of established properties
including apartments, cottages and bungalows. The
Coach Houses represent just three of a handful of
new homes built at the village in the last decade,
with no more development work planned.
Carefully designed to blend in both architecturally
and aesthetically with the remainder of the village,
the Coach Houses are being built to a high
specification.
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Each features a 21ft master bedroom with en suite
and dressing room, another bedroom upstairs and a
downstairs bedroom which could equally be used as a
dining room or study.
Kitchens are fully integrated and the main living
area includes a lounge and sunroom with views over
the landscaped gardens.
“Cedars Village is one of the most established in
the Retirement Villages’ portfolio so it is very
unusual for us to be able to offer brand new homes
here,” said National Sales Manager Rita Williams.
“For anyone who’s interested in living at Cedars
Village this really is an opportunity not to be
missed.”
The purchasers of the Coach Houses won’t just be
buying a new home, they’ll be buying into the
Retirement Villages’ lifestyle. Cedars’ Mansion
houses country club facilities including a
restaurant, bar, ballroom, library and a stunning
Victorian conservatory, all for the use of residents
and invited guests.
There is also an established social calendar
organised by residents. A 24 hour emergency call
system is in place for peace of mind.
Reservations for the Coach Houses are now being
invited. Prices start at £550,000. For more
information please call 0845 5211857.
Retirement Villages Ltd has been developing and
managing bespoke lifestyle and care villages for the
over 55s for 30 years. The pioneers of the UK model,
the company now has approaching 2,000 residents
living in 13 locations spread across 10 counties in
the south of the country.
For more information
Visit the website
www.retirementvillages.co.uk
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Society
Undervalues
The Retired Population
Unpaid care, community and charity work
undertaken by retired people saves society around
£25 billion a year.
A new report reveals that the UK’s ‘Retirement
Nation’¹, which includes all retired people, saves
the state and society at least £25 billion a year
through unpaid care, community and voluntary work.
But the report, ‘Our Retirement Nation’, which was
commissioned by MGM Advantage, warns that the
contribution made by this part of society is not
fully recognised and that the government and society
as a whole need to do more to understand their
emotional, health and financial requirements.
MGM Advantage is calling for fundamental changes to
ensure that the Retirement Nation gets the respect
and support it deserves from society, the media, the
financial services industry and the government. Its
recommendations and key findings are:
Respect – A
change in attitude towards the Retirement Nation and
greater recognition for retired people and what they
contribute to the UK – only 14% of retired people
feel valued by society.
Representation –
The Retirement Nation is a big part of the UK
society for what they contribute (£25 billion
through unpaid care, community and voluntary work),
but also the help and support they need. The
Retirement Nation needs a voice. MGM Advantage
recommends the Government creates a Minister for
Retirement.
Education – More
done to help people maximise and make the best use
of their financial wealth in retirement. The first
step is to help people improve their basic knowledge
about retirement and finance – 31% of retired over
55s have not heard of the Open Market Option. The
financial services industry, government, and media
all have a role to play in achieving this.
Simple products
– Financial services and government need to continue
to work together to innovate and design new
retirement products that meet the needs of the
Retirement Nation and are easy to understand,
accessible, and offer good value – only 29% of over
55s know exactly what an annuity is.
Ownership –
People need to take ownership of their retirement
planning – from building up a pension pot in their
20s and 30s to making the best retirement income
decision when they retire – 54% of non-retired UK
adults are not at all prepared for retirement.
The report highlights how the UK’s Retirement Nation
is collectively saving the government and society
£15.4 billion a year by taking on the unpaid care of
grandchildren, parents and other family members. In
addition to this, retired people are undertaking
voluntary work worth at least £5.6 billion a year
and charitable work worth at least £3.7 billion a
year
MGM Advantage, which is a retirement income
specialist, warns that the role played by this major
part of society is not fully recognised. Almost a
third (30%) of retired people think they are
undervalued and not respected by society, while just
14% feel valued, while the balance (55%) say that
they are sometimes treated badly.
With the number of retired people in the UK growing
significantly, MGM Advantage says that greater
consideration has to be paid to their contribution
as well as demands placed on society.
It also believes there should be a fundamental
change to the way that retired people are treated
and that more should be done to challenge the
pre-conceived notion of retirement.
The MGM Advantage report identifies six new
typologies which encompass the ‘hopes’ and ‘fears’
of those in the Retirement Nation:
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Personalities in our
Retirement Nation |
Number of retired people |
Proportion of retired
people |
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'Thriving' - has both the money and good
health to really enjoy retirement and to do
the things they have always dreamed of |
1.7 million |
15% |
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'Aspiring' - dreams of a better life in
retirement but may not be able to achieve
this as money hasn’t performed as well as
hoped, or health has deteriorated |
1.8 million |
15% |
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'Comfortable' - enjoys good health and has
enough money to maintain the same lifestyle
in retirement, as well as occasionally treat
themselves and their family |
3.4 million |
29% |
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'Careful' - independent, self-sufficient and
wants to keep the same lifestyle in
retirement, but modest pension and
investments is making this tough |
1.5 million |
13% |
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'Squeezed' - income will be less in
retirement because of low savings and they
may have to continue working if their health
allows |
2.3 million |
20% |
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'Restricted' - mainly dependent upon the
State and possibly family for financial
support so they have to budget very
carefully and cannot plan far ahead |
0.9 million |
8% |
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February
2012 